A possible look of the future Mars One mission settlement (Image by mars-one.com)

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The Mars One mission - to bring humans to the Red Planet - is underway, with nearly 80,000 applicants for a possible one-way trip. But will they go forth and multiply? Low gravity and cosmic rays lie in the path of the ambitious plan.

Mars is considered to be the most hospitable planet in the solar
system, after Earth. The dreams of the ‘Martian
Chronicles’ author, Ray Bradbury, or ‘Mr. Nobody’
director Jaco Van Dormael, could be turned into reality with the
colonization project.

The mission is aimed at sending first four Mars inhabitants in
2024, and their journey will become a Dutch reality TV program.
One of the things the first settlers will not be allowed to do,
however, is to have children.

The reason is that “The human ability to conceive in reduced
gravity is not known, neither is there enough research on whether
a fetus can grow normally under these circumstances,” the
mission states.

Still, Mars One acknowledges that to lead “true” life on
Mars, having children is “vital,” so Adams and Eves
could still descend on Mars. But what’s in store for them?

The planet’s gravity is just 38 percent of Earth’s, the
atmosphere is so thin it resembles a laboratory vacuum, and is
terribly cold. Typical nighttime temperatures close to the
equator are -70 C.

Scientists have been examining the issue of reproduction in space
for decades – in conditions of reduced gravity and limited space.

Although “performance of the sex act during a journey to Mars
may require potentially complex sexual gymnastics,” American
neuropsychologist Rhawn Joseph once noted, what concerns scientists more is the dangers
and risks space conditions pose to a potential baby and his
surviving abilities.

Researchers began their experiments with plants. Over 50 years
ago, Soviet scientists sent peas into space – and its four
generations turned out not to differ from their earthly breeds.
Fruit flies followed, and in 1979 quail eggs.

Embryos developed normally, but problems arose when the chicks
hatched - they didn’t even live four days, as they couldn’t cope
with micro-gravity, somersaulting helplessly. Their instincts
atrophied completely in 10 hours, not reacting to light and
sound.

To explore effects on sexual behavior, Russian scientists sent
male and female rats, as well as geckos, into space. In 1979, the
rats refused to mate, and the 2014 gecko experiment returned dead
lizards.

However, human beings are considered likely to easily overcome
sex-related psychological problems.

Officially, NASA has no policy regarding sex in space.
Nevertheless, astronauts voluntarily abide by the ‘Astronaut
Code of Professional Responsibility’, which calls“for a constant commitment to
honorable behavior.”

But even if those hurdles are overcome, biological factors come
into play. High levels of radiation, both from the sun and from
outer space, damage the ovaries and testicles – the most
sensitive parts of body to the cosmic rays.

Studies in non-human primates during the second half of pregnancy
revealed that even low doses of ionizing
radiation are enough to harm the ovaries of a female fetus.
Should humans be exposed, a girl carried to term in
interplanetary space could be infertile.

Bad luck for this solar system?

“I believe that we will eventually establish self-sustaining
colonies on Mars and other bodies in the solar system, but not
within the next 100 years,” believes British physicist
Stephen Hawking.